Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on the Conservative Political Motion Conference (CPAC) at Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., March 4, 2023.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Prosecutors in Latest York City have indicated to attorneys for President Donald Trump that he could possibly be criminally charged in reference to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on his behalf before the 2016 presidential election, a recent report said Thursday.
The Latest York Times reported that Trump was offered the chance by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to testify next week to the grand jury that has been collecting evidence and hearing testimony for the criminal probe.
“Such offers almost at all times indicate an indictment is close,” The Times article noted.
The newspaper said its reporters had spoken to 4 individuals with knowledge of the situation.
Two defense attorneys for Trump defense attorneys confirmed to NBC News that Trump has been told through his lawyers he can appear before the grand jury.
The Trump attorneys said such a suggestion is standard, and that he was not issued a subpoena compelling his appearance.
Those attorneys disputed The Times’ claims that criminal charges could possibly be forthcoming.
Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen in 2018 admitted to paying Daniel $130,000 shortly before the 2016 election to maintain her quiet about her claims to a one-time sexual tryst with Trump years earlier.
Trump, who’s searching for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has denied having sex with Daniels. But he reimbursed Cohen for the payment to the adult film actress.
A spokesperson for Trump told NBC News: “The Manhattan District Attorney’s threat to indict President Trump is just insane.”
“For the past five years, the DA’s office has been on a Witch Hunt, investigating every aspect of President Trump’s life, and so they’ve come up empty at every turn – and now this,” the spokesperson said.
“The incontrovertible fact that after their intensive investigation the DA is even considering a recent political attack is a transparent exoneration of President Trump in all areas. President Trump was the victim of extortion then, just as he’s now. It’s a humiliation to the Democrat prosecutors, and it’s a humiliation to Latest York City.”
Along with the probe by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Trump is under criminal investigation in Atlanta for interference within the 2020 presidential election, when he tried to get state officials to overturn the victory in Georgia by President Joe Biden.
Trump is also under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for efforts to reverse his loss within the Electoral College to Biden that 12 months, and for pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to simply accept the certifications of Biden electors from swing states that gave Biden his margin of victory.